Florida Man Attacked By Black Bear Amid Growing Population

In Apopka, Florida, Alexander Rojas was attacked by juvenile black bears outside his home, an incident captured on his Ring doorbell camera. The bears bit and clawed Rojas, causing injuries to his arm and ribs, and he was treated and released from the hospital. Following the attack, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded to try to trap the bears and is investigating the incident. This attack occurred shortly after Florida approved its first black bear hunt in a decade amid growing concerns about bear encounters, which are rare but can be dangerous, especially when bears feel threatened or are protecting their young. The FWC advises residents on how to avoid and react to bear encounters to prevent harm. This incident follows a fatal bear attack earlier in the year, marking the first documented fatality from a bear in Florida's history, highlighting increasing tensions between humans and black bears in the state.